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- E3 08: Majesco Demonstration
- Posted 5 months, 3 weeks ago by Veggie Jackson
In recent years, Majesco has gone from a publisher of games for a wide audience to a specialist in the kids’ market. This year is no different, as their E3 presentation included an array of all-ages titles for the Wii and DS. We got a chance to get our hands on three of their Wii offerings while on the show floor. Here’s a quick look at each.
Cooking Mama World Kitchen – Wii
With its intuitive controls and lighthearted tone, the Cooking Mama series has proven to be quite a commercial success for Majesco. It’s no surprise, therefore, that they’ve brought the franchise back with Cooking Mama World Kitchen for the Wii. While the game hasn’t changed the formula much in terms of gameplay (you’re still chopping onions, spreading butter on pans and grinding meat for hamburgers), there are some new features to speak of that will set World Kitchen apart. First off, this is the first Cooking Mama to be presented in 3D, with all the characters sporting a nice cel-shaded look. There’s also a set of mini-games that kick in when you fail a section of one of the game’s 50 recipes. For example, while we were tossing a beef patty back and forth, the Majesco rep asked us to drop it, initiating a mini-game in which rapid Wiimote shakes help Mama dive and catch the falling meat before the dog does. The game plays just like a Cooking Mama title should, with responsive controls and fun, cheerful mechanics and plenty of unlockable goodies. Graphically, the game won’t amaze anyone, but they serve their purpose well enough. Cooking Mama World Kitchen gets cooking on October 1.
Our House – Wii
Our House tasks you with designing, building and renovating your own house through a series of competitive mini-games. In addition to games based on painting walls, demolishing kitchens and even landscaping, players will need to compete in resource gathering exercises to gain them better tools. The example we saw was a “Supermarket Sweep” style shopping game that netted us a jackhammer, a far superior demolition tool to the standard ball-peen variety. There’s tons of ways to customize your house, giving each player the opportunity to create their dream home. It’s simple, well-made fun on the Wii. Look for it some time later this year.
Major Minor’s Majestic March – Wii
Only the fourth console release from Parappa the Rapper creators, NanaOn-Sha, Major Minor’s Majestic March turns your Wiimote into a baton, and you into a bandleader as you recruit more and more band members to your parade. Power-ups and power downs litter your path as well, and each one can change your band’s attitude, making them more or less likely to keep following you. The gameplay is a bit simple, but it’s definitely challenging to keep the tempo up while also waving at new band members, especially when the music changes. Visually, the game is somewhere between quirky and hideous, and, to be honest, Majesco should have thought twice before displaying such a blocky, pixilated game on such a big TV, but if you like rhythm games and loved the band gathering mechanic from Space Channel 5, Major Minor might be right for you.
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Comments
Cooking Mama rules and thus I a excited for this.
Didn't Majesco also produce Psychonauts? Oh how some companies do what they do (change) that some people disagree with.